It may not be festival season quite yet, but a month-long music celebration is taking place at four venues in Cardiff this month. Buffalo Bar, Buffalo Lounge, 10 Feet Tall and Undertone will be hosting the Hometown Heroes Festival featuring gigs by some of the best new bands in Wales. Dave Owens picks out his highlights

THE GENTLE GOOD

Gareth Bonello is a folkie in every sense of the word – by day he’s an education officer at St Fagans: National History Museum, still affectionately known as the folk museum, and by night he’s one of South Wales’ most talented singer-songwriters.

His alter ego The Gentle Good plays the sort of pastoral and plaintive stylings that recall the best folk-inspired troubadours of yore.

A captivating live performer in the vein of Nick Drake, Bert Jansch and Donovan, Gareth is set to release Tethered For The Storm – the follow up to his critically acclaimed 2008 debut, While You Slept I Went Out Walking.

The Cardiff-based musician’s honest and tender vocals are well matched to an intricate guitar style that owes much to the great guitarists of the ’60s folk revival.

A dedicated multi-instrumentalist, his recordings are layered with subtle string arrangements as well as banjos, mandolins and glockenspiels.

Following a series of self released EPs, his debut album was released by Gwymon Records in November 2008.

The album received high praise, with Gareth variously being compared to Martin Carthy, Bert Jansch, and John Martyn.

Veteran radio legend Bob Harris repeatedly lavished compliments on the album on his Radio Two Saturday night show.

Now he’s ready to unleash a quiet storm with his second album. Those attending his 10 Feet Tall show can expect to encounter a smattering of the beautifully and elegaic songs that constitute his new long player.

The Gentle Good’s music conjures up stark images of windswept rolling vistas and unforgiving seas. But then it’s no surprise to discover he’s in touch with nature. He graduated from Bristol University with a Zoology degree.

Apparently Gareth has learnt the sounds of so many birds that he now finds it just as easy to listen to a bird as to look at it when he wants to know what it is!

His shows are especially enchanting affairs. He’ll be paying testimony to that fact when he headlines a show at 10 Feet Tall tomorrow night as part of the Hometown Heroes Festival.

Recent developments have seen the talented musician perform with a string section – delivering a more complete sound closer to those heard on his records.

Nevertheless, whether it’s Gentle Good with or without band, Cardiff gig-goers are in for a treat.

The Gentle Good supported by Meilir and Stephen Wheel plays 10 Feet Tall, Cardiff tonight. For more info check out www.myspace.com/thegentlegood

FIVE MORE FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS

H HAWKLINE

The alter-ego of S4C TV presenter Huw Evans, his hypnotic supports with Gruff Rhys and a pairing with the industrious Cardiff label Shape Records meant that he was able to push his playful brand of melodic innovation to the max on his limited edition release album – the wholly mesmerising A Cup Of Salt. H Hawkline, Buffalo Bar, Cardiff, Friday, January 21. Entry £6. More: www.myspace.com/hhawkline

THE BROKEN VINYL CLUB

The psych pop outfit, signed to Cardiff’s ace See Monkey Do Monkey label released their debut single I Want You Girl last year and are a thrilling live proposition. So much so that they were handpicked by Oasis frontman turned fashion guru Liam Gallagher, to play at the London launch of his Pretty Green label. They’ll have designs on greater achievements in 2011. The Broken Vinyl Club, Buffalo Bar, Cardiff, Friday, January 14. Entry £4. More: www.myspace.com/thebrokenvinylclub

THE NEW OBJECTS

Incredibly ambitious new band from Cardiff who have only been together a few months but whose stunning manifesto appears to be to inspire shock and awe with beautifully composed songs that swoop, soar and generally lead you to surrender yourself to their majestic rock charm. The New Objects play with Vanity Fair, Ideals and We’re No Heroes, Undertone, Cardiff, Wednesday, January 19. Entry £5. More: www.myspace.com/thenewobjects

OK

If prizes were given out for unbridled melodic fun then Cardiff pop maestros OK would clean up. Unashamedly pop, self-deprecatingly smart and wildly entertaining the band have been given full rein to bring their sunny, honeyed tunes to both Buffalo Bar and Buffalo Lounge. OK play and curate a bill at Buffalo Bar, Cardiff on Tuesday, January 25. Entry £4. They also play a free 6pm show at Buffalo Lounge on the same evening. More: www.myspace.com/thatbandok

VVOLVES

If pulsating electro rock is your bag then check out the brooding contents of VVolves’ debut EP Wolves. The Monmouth-Cardiff band are signed to local label Peski Records, and they’ll be headlining a Peski showcase featuring labelmates Land Of Bingo and Plyci. VVolves play Buffalo Bar, Cardiff on Saturday January 29. Entry £5. More: www.myspace.com/vvolves

For more details about the Hometown Heroes Festival check out their page at www.facebook.com